Artificial christmas tree



y 1955 M. J. 'WEDDEN 2,708,324

ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE Filed May 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MulzaocA J/wzsmam BY al m/9m ATTOENE Y y 7, 1955 M. J. WEDDEN 2,708,324

ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE Filed May 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

MUQDOCKJIME-S WEDDEA/ ATTORNEY United States Patent ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE Murdock James Wedden, Miami, Fla.

Application May 26, 1952, Serial No. 292,107

1 Claim. (Cl. 41-15) This invention relates to fabricated trees and is more particularly directed to an artificial Christmas tree which is collapsible and can be used on innumerable occasions.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fabricated Christmas tree which is constructed of non-inflammable materials, and which can be collapsed for economical shipping and storing purposes.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of the above described Christmas tree which is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive in cost and whose life is measured over many years of use.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an artificial tree characterized as above, whose limbs consist of a pair of pivotally mounted rods clamped together to maintain foliage of the tree securely thereon.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the present specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of my improved artificial Christmas tree shown in a folded or collapsed condition.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tree showing the limbs while in their extended position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken horizontally through the standard and showing only one set of limbs.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is detailed plan view of the end portions of a set of limbs showing the clamp in its unengaged position.

Figure 8 is an end view of the structure shown by Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in particular to Figures 13 inclusive, the numeral 10 refers generally to the tree which consists of a vertically disposed tapered hollow tube 11 as the trunk thereof, at the base of which is welded or otherwise secured a cone shaped base 12. On the inner surface of the base 12 there are mounted a plurality of hinge lugs 13 on which are pivotally mounted by pivot pins 15 the legs 14 whose free ends 16 terminate in an arcuate loop and over which a rubber member 17 having a cylindrical shape is fitted. When the legs 14 are in their supporting position, the side walls of the base member operate as a stop member and thereby maintain the legs 14 in their extended position while the rubber members 17 are in contact with the floor upon which the tree is placed.

2,793,324 F'atented May 17, 1955 'ice A plurality of hinge lugs 18 are welded or otherwise secured about the side wall of the standard 11; the hinge lugs 18 being arranged in tiers thereon. Each of the hinge lugs 18 is provided with a bottom wall 18:: and have pivotally mounted thereon a pair of elongated rods 20 and 21 whose inner end portions are looped to form a pivotal portion and through which a pivot pin 19 mounted on the hinge lug 18 extends. The bottom walls 18a of each of the lugs 18 maintain the members 20 and 21 in a horizontal position. At the free end of each of the elongated members 21 there is a U-shaped clamp 22 pivotally mounted thereon by a pivot pin 23. Each of the clamps 22 is adapted to engage the member 20 when swung to its clamping position as shown by Figure 4 and to swing out of its engaged position, when so desired, as is best shown by Figures 7 and 8.

At the topmost portion of the standard 11 there is a socket 27 in which is threaded a light bulb 25. An electric cable 26 is connected to the socket 27, extends through the tubular standard 11 and is connected to a source of electricity (not shown).

Foliage 28 which may be natural foliage taken from evergreen trees or may be artificially produced is placed between the pairs of elongated members 20 and 21. The clamp 22 is then pivoted about its pivot pin 23 to encircle and engage the member 20 whereby the foliage 28 is maintained securely gripped along and between the members 20 and 21. The Christmas tree 10 is then ready to be further decorated with ornaments, lights and other paraphernalia.

When it is desired to dismantle the tree, the ornaments, etc. are removed therefrom and the clamps 22 pivoted to their unengaged position. The foliage 28 is removed from between the members 20 and 21 and the clamps 22 are then returned to their engaged position. Then the pairs of members 26 and 21 are swung upwardly until they abut against the outer surface of the standard 11 and the legs 14 are swung downwardly as best shown by Figure 1. The tree 10 is now ready for storage or for shipping purposes.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

An artificial Christmas tree comprising a vertically disposed standard, a cone shaped plate member secured to the lower portion of said standard, a plurality of hinge lugs secured to the inner surface of said plate member, leg members pivotally mounted on said hinge lugs and adapted to bear against the inner surface of said plate members when said leg members are in their operative position, a plurality of pivot support means mounted on said standard, said pivot support means having a horizontally disposed bottom wall portion, a pair of rods pivotally mounted on each of said pivot support means, said bottom wall portions being adapted to maintain said rods at a substantially horizontal position, a plurality of U-shaped clamp members, pivot means mounting the leg portions of each of said clamp members at a free end of one of said rods of said pairs of rods, said other end of each or" said clamp members adapted to releasably engage each of said other rods whereby said rods of each of said pairs of rods are maintained securely together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 75,251 Du Bois Mar. 10, 1868 179,610 Robinson July 4, 1876 284,286 Downing Sept. 4, 1883 353,332 Tremble Nov. 30, 1886 962,855 Perkins June 28, 1910 1,476,667 Wood Dec. 4, 1923 1,683,637 Trimpe Sept. 11, 1928 1,694,974 Glover Dec. 11, 1928 2,537,826 Hauser Jan. 9, 1951 

